Sophomore Daimion Collins had the best overall numbers of any UK player at the recent Pro Day. (Vicky Graff Photo)
While Kentucky basketball players put on a bit of a show at Big Blue Madness Friday, what went on at the recent UK Pro Day revealed a lot more interesting information.
NBA personnel not only got a chance to watch the Cats in action but also got to check out a variety of measurements that I sometimes think NBA scouts value more than what they see in games.
Sophomore Daimion Collins continues to be an intriguing player and perhaps the player generating the most preseason buzz. He’s gone from barely being used the second half of last season to a spot in the starting lineup in preseason workouts and potential NBA draft pick after the 2022-23 season ends.
Only Jacob Toppin (3.09 seconds) and Sahvir Wheeler (3.18) had a faster 3/4 court sprint time than Collins’ 3.2 seconds. Adou Thiero (3.22) and Cason Wallace (3.24) got close while Oscar Tshiebwe was also timed in 3.2 seconds.
What about the vertical jump? Collins was No. 1 at 46.5 inches with Toppin next at 45. Walk-on Kareem Watkins was third at 43 inches with Wallace (42) and Thiero (41) next.
Guess who was first in the standing vertical jump? Yes it was Collins at 34 inches just in front of Toppin at 33.5. Watkins was next at 32 followed by Wheeler at 31.5 and Chris Livingston at 30.
Collins was not the best in the shuttle run. That was Wallace at 10.03 seconds followed by Antonio Reeves (10.45) and Wheeler (10.49). Lance Ware came in at 10.86 with Collins at 11.07.
Tshiebwe and freshman Ugonna Onyenso had the longest wingspan at 7 feet, 4 inches with Collins just behind at 7-3 and then Ware at 7-1, Thiero 6-11 and Toppin 6-10 3/4.
Onyenso had the best standing reach at 9-2 1/2 with Ware at 9-0 and Collins at 8-11 1/2.
